What is Biblical Counselling?

In simple terms, biblical counselling involves offering counsel from the Bible to those who desire God’s wisdom, direction, and help as they wrestle with the difficulties of life, including sinful practices or providential suffering. It is a process of focused, restorative, discipleship that highlights the practical application of the Word of God to the struggles of life. Biblical counselling is focused in that it addresses the underlying issues that manifest themselves as pain, sorrow, or sin in one’s life.  And, it is restorative in that the goal of biblical counselling is to help one see and accept the truth of God’s Word so as to experience a heart-level change that results in inner peace and a restored relationship with their loving Heavenly Father.

“Wise counseling is essentially a way of loving another person well. It is a way of speaking what is true and constructive into this person’s life right now.”
—David Powlison, Speaking Truth in Love

How is Biblical Counselling different?

In biblical counselling the heart is the target. The simplest, most biblical answer to the question “Why do people do the things they do?” can be found by asking the question “What is controlling the heart?” The goal of biblical counselling is heart change. Any help that fails to reach the heart is no help at all. In evaluating the heart, we find out if we are trusting and loving the true God or some other god, such as peace, prosperity, pleasure, or control.

“This is the principle of inescapable influence: Whatever rules the heart will exercise inescapable influence over the person’s life and behavior.”
—Paul Tripp, Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands

“Whom do you love? And whom do you worship? are critical questions that are linked together.”
—Elyse Fitzpatrick, Idols of the Heart

Is Biblical Counselling for me?

Life is full of difficulties and we all respond in various and troubling ways. We wrestle with everything from annoying habits that are hard to kick, to full blown addictive behavior; from minor conflict in relationships, to complete communication breakdowns; from anxious thoughts and mild anxiety, to severe panic attacks and the deepest, darkest depression. We often live lives of quiet desperation, wearing masks, fearing what others think, feeling like hypocrites, longing to be different, but having no real hope for authentic and lasting change.

As Christians, we believe that God is loving and kind and we recognize that the Bible speaks into all of life’s problems. We also know that we live in a fallen world, and as such, we all experience seasons of difficulties and trials that are hard to understand or accept. This is why all of us, at times, need the wise and prayerful counsel of a fellow believer to help us see our situation from a biblical perspective, a perspective that, in the midst of our suffering, we often do not see.

“We all need help – that’s simply part of being human.”
“We were not designed to go through hard things alone.”
—Edward Welch, Side By Side